Read or watch the news today, and you'll hear a lot about what makes a nation strong. There is one way to strengthen our nation now, and it's universally agreed upon: Mount a full-scale prevention and response effort against Zika. We're talking about Zika prevention and management.

The longer we wait to mount a full-scale defense against Zika, the worse the consequences will be. Our slow response will hurt our nation's businesses while causing incalculable pain to women, their partners and families—and most of all, the babies who will suffer the irreversible, tragic effects of the virus.